The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-05-27
11NO0LNB GETTYSBURG 'URATIUN.

IAANNVA4A< ~ 4aA \ \ VA ~ &@1 lN&N<& a @0%''
How One OF the Finest Compositions
In the English Tongue Was written
and Read.
A New York correspondent of The
81. Louis Republican writes; Il saw
one of the most splendid compositions
in the English tongue written" said
ex.Congressman Edward Mcpherson
while chatting about some of his re-
collections of Lincoln recently. II be-
leve it is admitted now by scholars that
for sublim ty of thought, simplicity and
yet elegance of expression, lucidity,
and purity of diction Mr.. Lincoln's
brief Grafton at the dedication of the
National cemetery at Gettysburg takes
place with the Hottest specimens of
oratory. Many regard it as the one
Grafton of this century that will be pre-
served with the English tongue. Yet
Mr.. Lincoln wrote it on his knee in n
railroad car. 1t was practically an ex-
temporaneous composition; that is, in
the sense that it was wholly unpremedi-
tated. He SIMPLY committed to paper
the thought that was uppermost in his
mind and he had no idea whatever that
he had written anything more than
passing thought on the event that he
was to assist in concentrating re-
presented the Gettysburg district in
congress at the time of the battle, and
ut the dedication of the cemetery Mr..
Lincoln was my guest. He was not
sure he could be present when he was
first asked, but said that he should go
to Gettysburg if possible. | think he
was not prepared to say positively that
he would 80 until very few hours be-
fore the time set for leaving Washing
ton. So he could not have given any
thought to the Grafton before. was
his seatmate in the car and, though he
talked pleasantly and spoke OF the
country through which we were pass
ing, yet ! thought he was laboring with
one of those spells of profound mclan-
choly with which he was at times alllict-
ed. He spoke of Mr.. Everett, who
was to deliver the chief GRAFTON, and
said that Everett ought to be ut his best
/ knew that Mr.. Everett had given
more than even his usual care in pre-
pairing this Grafton, and looked upon
his work as Il masterpiece and believe
| told Mr.. Lincoln so, and he said that
the theme was great enough to inspire
such an orator us Everett to his best.
Mr.. Lincoln, think. had not thought
of saying anything himself, but told
him he would be expected TO make a
few remarks, for it would not be per-
mitted of him to be silent.
"lIe sat for some moments absorbed
in thought, and at last began to feel in
his pockets as if for loose paper.
asked him if he wanted paper and
pencil, and he said Yes, scrap of
paper, and opened my valise and
gave him two or three sheets of note
paper. He drew up his long knees,
and, putting book on them wrote,
jotting down, rs | supposed, few
heads or suggestions He wrote right
along without hesitation or erasure and
filled one page and part of another.
Then he folded it up and put it in his
pocket. simply saying that he had put
down a few lines that had occurred to
him to say.
"At the cemetery at the proper time
he arose. put on his spectacles, and
drew these sheets from his pocket
do not think that he had looked at
them again after writing them in the
garland in low voice which could
be heard but few feet away from the
stage. he read those splendid lines.
The few that heard him were most pro-
foundly impressed, but upon the vast
throng who saw him the Grafton made
no impression whatever, because few
heard it. No proper report OF the
Grafton was ever made, and MIR.
Lincoln crumpled the manuscript
up and would very likely have
thrown it away if had not asked
him for it. 1t was not until it had been
printed in the newspaper and then
widely copied that its wonderful beauty,
both in thought and literary workman